Lifting the Secrecy Around Chemical Safety

Attorney Marianne Engelman Lado discusses Earthjustice's work to fix our nation's broken toxics regulatory system and to lift the secrecy around chemical safety. The conversation was held on March 13, 2014 and moderated by National Press Secretary Kari Birdseye.

More than 80,000 chemicals are currently approved for use in the United States, and over 15,000 are "secret." The vast majority have never been tested for safety. The U.S. often allows industry free rein, while communities are left in the dark about what is in their water, air, and household products.

Earthjustice is fighting at the national and regional level to protect human health from pollutants and toxic chemicals. We fight for healthy communities by strengthening standards and protections, and holding polluters accountable.

Earthjustice client Frank Morton, an organic farmer and seed grower in the Willamette Valley, believes that the USDA’s approval of genetically engineered sugar beets poses a threat to his organic seed crop. Roundup Ready sugar beets are wind pollinators, which means that pollen from Roundup Ready beets could contaminate non-GE beets and other compatible species, such as red chard.